What’s one thing you wish you knew when you first started your career?
The industry around you is going to change, and it’s going to change fast. These aren’t our parent’s or grandparent’s career paths anymore, where stability and consistency were the norm. Be hyper aware of that change, and most importantly, make sure to be the one learning the most about it, or even more, the one leading the change. Easier said than done, but if you have that perspective early on in your career, it’ll take you far.

Oh, and don’t let the big boss that stomps around the office intimidate you. Hold your head high, speak up, show up and lean in.

What does a typical day look like for you?
My favorite thing about my day is that no two days are exactly alike. Sure, I have the usual work calls, email replying and project building and managing, but in terms of the specifics around those, I love that my team and I get to work on such a wide range of projects that make us excited to wake up and go to work every day.

That said, I do tend to have a small routine within the ever-changing work day, which includes a solid morning routine, that, full disclosure, I only recently became dedicated to, and I’ve already noticed a difference in my mood, focus and productivity. The morning routine is pretty simple, but it’s usually the small, simple things that tend to – over time – make the biggest impact. I get out of bed the moment my alarm goes off, wash my face, brush my teeth, set an intention, get ready for the day, make the bed, get outside for a couple minutes to feel that morning sun, stretch for 5 minutes and do some personal writing for 5 minutes. Mind you, I do all of this before I even look at my phone. Once I’m done, only then do I look at my phone and start to dive into my work day. It has become so impactful on setting a positive tone for my day, not allowing me to immediately dive into my phone, pulling myself into a million directions – including “doom scrolling” – the moment the alarm goes off.

After that, it’s a wide range of in-person and virtual work-related meetings, dog walks, being active, and unwinding with my husband over dinner. I also make sure to block out a part of my day on my calendar to ensure I can actually get work done, so my days don’t turn into back to back meetings, where the end of the day rolls around and I realize I haven’t been able to actually get work done. That’s definitely an important part of my routine as well.

How do you stay up-to-date in your industry?
I took an interesting career path in that I focused on what I think are some of the most rapidly changing industries that are currently out there (aside from technology): digital media and PR. In order for me to stay ahead of the changes, I have to be as tapped into as many areas as possible, including following and subscribing to reporters, publications, social channels, podcasts, platforms and newsletters that are prolific and pioneers in those fields.

Part of staying up-to-date is also being super adaptable to changing trends – and not only adapting, but doing everything in my power to stay ahead of the curve. Constantly asking what the next tool, trend, change, shift and more might be within my industry, and adjacent industries.

Staying extremely curious and picking the right brains is also the name of the game. I try to surround myself with people who can teach me things, who are smarter than me in certain areas, and who aren’t afraid to challenge something if they have a potentially better idea. I also try to put myself out there – attending events that have areas of focus that will help me expand my learnings and meet new people.

What’s your dream project?
I’m happy to say I’ve been able to work on some absolute dream projects, including helping launch a couple animated series with our partners, announcing the return of the Upright Citizens Brigade, launching new platforms, rolling out never before experienced immersive programming and more. But as I continue to grow in my career, I love the idea of working on more comedy-based projects (improv is a personal passion of mine) as well as interactive, immersive experiences, such as Meow Wolf. When I’m asked what kind of client Motiv PR gravitates towards, I say “a client that’s pushing the boundaries on the way people consume entertainment” – so continuing to work and build in that direction is my ultimate dream.

How do you unwind from work mode?
This is a tricky question to answer because it’s safe to say I never 100% unwind from work mode – and I’m not saying that to condone the idea of “hustle culture” because I’m a firm believer in a quality work/life balance. It’s just that Motiv is something I’m extremely passionate about, and I love some of the projects we get to work on and the people we get to work with, so if there’s a bit of a juggle during off hours, it’s not a bad thing. That said, since I do promote the importance of a work/life balance and ensuring I’m focusing on myself and my well being when the time comes, I have a handful of things that really help me check out and breathe. I’m a very active person, and enjoy indoor cycling, strength training, hiking, swimming, long walks with my dog Ripley, and yoga – maintaining a regular cadence of activity is probably the best way I wind down. It’s my safe place, my sanctuary. Also, in the last few years, I started taking improv classes, which has become a very important creative outlet for me. I don’t really have intentions of doing shows, I just love diving into a good improv class and getting so much out of it – I can apply what I’ve learned not only to the improv I do, but also to my everyday personal and work life. I’m very grateful I found that outlet, it’s become a really important part of my life.

What is your evaluation process for projects this year?
I like to dig into the background of the company with the submission first to understand that important context, then move to the submission itself, reviewing through the lens of the specific category and how they’re succeeding, failing or overshining within that area.

When you submit your projects to the w3 Awards, they’re reviewed by digital creative professionals like Kat. Enter now before the Final Entry Deadline on June 21st.